Convertible ladder.



Patented July 7, 19%

v Attorneys,

. N THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTO-LI'FHO WASHINGTON. D. C

d l m Bonnier or. PI1\TG, or

AUDUBON, IOWA, ASSIGNOB. OF ONE-HALF TAGGART," OF AUDUBON, IOWA.

To nuennn 1v.

venant Leanna...

T0 at? whom it mat "concern Be it known. tl1'at. l',: RoBEnT G. Bins, a citizen for at United s table r siding 'at Audubon, iii the county 'iofAii'dubon and State of lowa, hav'ednvented a 'newan'd use ful Convei tible Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ladders, its principal object being to provide a structure of this character capable of "being converted for use either as a step ladder or as an extension leader? ti A further object is to provide a ladder of this character which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and which can be used with safety when adjusted to either of the forms in which it may be used.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details, of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made Within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:Figure 1 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section of the ladder adjusted for use as a step ladder. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device adjusted for use as an extension ladder. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the meet ing portions of the ladder sections when assembled as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference A designates the main section of the ladder and B designates the second section. Each of these sections is formed of oppositely disposed side strips 1 made preferably of sheet metal, each strip having a laterally extending longitudinal flange 2. The side strips of the section A are formed, at their upper ends, with backwardly extending enlargements 3 in which are provided L-shaped slots 4, each slot having a downwardly extended portion 5 close to and parallel with the adjacent flange 2. The side strips of the section A are connected by steps 6 likewise preferably formed of sheet metal and having reinforcing flanges 7 along the front edges thereof and end flanges 8,

$peeification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 21, Serial No. 769,058.

"1;, f m 1: w ,4 :2. 5 i

lhdder isfornied offside strips? siini'l'ar to the side strlps Tonlynot provided with' eh- Patented Jl ly 7, 1914;.

these; last na-med flanges being secured to the s1tlestr1ps 1 rii e't'sbr thedik'e. The apps-ta second section *Bofthe larged portions f-such' as shown Pt 3? These side sate *tfonnected by steps 10 'simi lar to th'e' steps 6 a nd those por tionsl of the side fstrips 9 extending belo v the lowermost step l'tl, that the sectibn is arranged as-*in* Fig. 2, extend along the outer sides of the strips 1 "and have studs ll "extending in wardly therefrom and slidable within the slots 4. These studs can be provided, at their inner ends, with retaining washers or heads 12 whereby withdrawal of the studs from the slots is prevented. Links 18 are connected to the side strips 9 at points between the ends of said side strips and are arranged in pairs, one link of each pair having a hooked terminal 14 adapted to detachably engage one of the side strips 1. Each of these side strips 1 has one or more apertures 15 designed to receive the hooked terminals.

When it is desired to use the device as a step ladder, the section B is drawn longitudinally of the section A until the studs 11 are withdrawn from the portions 5 of the slots whereupon said studs can shift back Within the slots 4 and thus permit the section B to swing downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1. The hooked terminals 14 are then placed in certain of the apertures 15 whereupon the device can be used as a step ladder. Should it be desired to use the 90 structure as an extension ladder, the hooked terminals 14 are disengaged from the side strips 1 and the section B is swung into alinement with the section A, thus bringing the studs 11 into slots 5. Section B is then shifted downwardly until the studs are brought against the lower ends of the slots 5 whereupon the flanges of the side strips 9 will fit snugly against the flanges 2 and swinging of the section B relative to section A is thus prevented. With the parts thus assembled it will be seen that the ladder can be used in safety, there being no danger of the two sections swinging relative to each other.

While the device has been described as formed of sheet metal, it is to be understood that it can be made of any other suitable material, it merely being necessary that the lower side strips 1 be provided with laterally extending flangesand that slotted enlargements be provided at the upper ends of the side strips so as to receive studs or other projecting devices upon the side strips of the upper section.

What isclaimed is i- A ladder including a section having laterally extending longitudinal flanges, an enlargement upon each side of said section and provided with a slot, said slot having an innerport-ion parallel with the adjacent flange and an outer or upper portion at right angles thereto, the flanges being extended past the slots, an upper section having one end straddlingthe lower section, said upper'seetion being adjustable angularly relative to the lower section and having a laterally extending longitudinal flange along one edge of each side thereof, and means upon the upper section and slidable within the slot for holding said sections together ,under all conditions, said upper section being shiftable to bring said holdingmeans from the upper portions of the slots into the lower portions of the downwardly extending parts of the slots upper section against the back faces of the flanges of the lower section, thereby to hold said upper sect-ion against swinging movement relative to the lower section. k

In testimony that'I claim the foregoing as and to bring the flanges of the my own,;I have hereto aflixed my signature I in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT Gr. PING.

Witnesses A. J. HUNT, CHAS, A. PING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner-.01 Patents,

Washington, D. 0. v 

